3.5 minute read

HUDDLE

Good Morning, Readers!

Last week was a wild one for healthcare-related news stories, from the murder of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO to Blue Cross Blue Shield’s controversial new anesthesia policy, which has since been rescinded.

Read more about them below ⬇️ and let me know your thoughts.

Today's Top Beats

🚨 UnitedHealthcare CEO Slain
🩺 Anesthesia Policy Uproar
❤️‍🩹 Cancer Deaths Avoided

HANDOFF

Manhunt Continues for UnitedHealthcare CEO’s Killer

Last week, UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, 50, was shot and killed in a targeted attack outside the New York Hilton Midtown. Shell casings at the scene had the words “deny,” “defend,” and “depose,” which are commonly used to describe health insurer tactics to avoid paying claims. Investigators are tracking the gunman, who may have traveled from Atlanta and stayed in Manhattan under a fake ID. Surveillance footage captured the shooting and glimpses of the shooter’s face, and police are analyzing items he bought from a nearby Starbucks and discarded.

Concerning Anesthesia Policy Reversed

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield has reversed a planned policy that would have limited anesthesia coverage during surgeries and procedures in Connecticut, New York, and Missouri. The policy, criticized by physicians and lawmakers, would have denied coverage for anesthesia exceeding Medicare-based time estimates, excluding patients under 22 and maternity care. Anthem cited “widespread misinformation” about the proposal and confirmed it will continue covering medically necessary anesthesia. Critics argued the policy drives up profits for the insurer at the expense of patients and physicians.

UPMC Nurses Speak Up

Over 1,000 UPMC nurses have signed an open letter urging the health system to improve staffing, pay, and retention, including eliminating pay caps and enhancing parental leave and PTO. UPMC claims to offer progressive pay increases, but nurses argue more is needed to address systemic issues and support sustainable careers. The letter also calls for frontline nurse representation on UPMC’s board.

TODAY'S TOP VITAL

5.94 Million

The estimated number of deaths from breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancers that have been averted from 1975–2020 thanks to medical advancements in prevention, screening, and treatments. Click here to learn the role each intervention played in reducing deaths for the various cancers.

PRN

THAT REMOTE LIFE WITH NURSE FERN

How Work Involvement Builds Remote Nursing Skills

To be a remote nurse is to be willing to stand out amongst a huge pool of applicants. Sometimes, that means getting a little more involved at work. 

The good news is there are tons of resources available for bedside nurses to develop skills that are attractive to remote nurse employers, like:

• Leadership: Sign up to be a preceptor for new graduate nurses or student nurses, or learn more about steps to becoming a charge nurse.

• Quality Improvement: Join a quality and improvement council. If your hospital doesn’t have one, see if they have any needs for chart auditing on your unit.

• Education: Consider CEs that aren’t tied directly to your specialty, but that can help you develop as a nurse, like operations or AI in healthcare.

• Collaboration: See if there’s anyone in your hospital who is willing to be your mentor. 

Check out the full article here.

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TODAY IN THE CHART

SUPPLY ROOM

Feeling Froggy

This funny badge reel features a phrase we can all relate to.

BREAK ROOM

Pre-Shift Scaries

Do you ever have pre-shift scaries, especially before you have to work 3 or 4 consecutive days? Watch what this partner does for his nurse wife before her long stretch of shifts. Show this to your partner!

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